Salvia Guaranitica (Anise Sage)
Salvia Guaranitica
Blue anise sage is native to Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. The pointed oval leaves are 2-5” long, and lightly sweet-scented, but despite the common name, do not smell like anise. They are slightly toothed, hairy, and are borne in opposite pairs on the branched, square dark green stems. The leaves are dark green, wrinkled above and pale green below. The plants have a loose, bushy, rather open form.
Grow blue anise sage in full or partial sun, but avoid harsh afternoon sun. It will survive in partial shade, but will be gangly and floppy with fewer flowers. It does best in fertile, well-drained soil. Plant 18-24” apart. It prefers regular water, especially in the heat of summer, but do not allow it to remain wet. Pinch about monthly to keep plants full and compact. Salvia Guaranitica requires little additional fertilizer or flower production will be reduced on taller, more brittle plants. Deadhead the flowers as they fade to encourage continued blooming.
Salvia Guaranitica will flower from summer until late fall. It can get up to 6 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide, making it an excellent background plant. It freezes to the ground and sprouts back in spring in zones 8 and 9A. Emerging from dormancy in early spring, the 3' tall clumps are clothed in fuzzy green, spade-shaped leaves. From midsummer through fall, the slowly spreading patches are topped with 1' spikes of narrow, long, snapdragon-like, luscious, deep blue flowers...a hummingbird favorite.
Photos below are of Salvia Guaranitica 'Black and Blue'
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue' gets its name from the flowers, the flowers are blue in color and the calyx is almost black in color.
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